As a tabletop gamer, you likely spend a lot of time engaged in mentally challenging games, often for hours at a time. While this can be enjoyable and rewarding, it can also take a toll on your mental wellness. In this blog post, we'll explore how you can maintain and improve your mental health while still enjoying your favorite hobby.
Practice mindfulness.
Incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine can help you stay focused, reduce stress, and improve your mental wellbeing. Try to be present in the moment while playing tabletop games, and avoid multitasking or getting distracted by other things like your phone. We often use tabletop games as a way to escape our current stressors, so keep those stressors away while playing.
Get plenty of rest.
Adequate sleep is crucial for mental health, so make sure to get enough restful sleep each night. Try to stick to a regular sleep schedule, and avoid playing games for extended periods of time before bed. Or after your normal bed time. This will be covered more in depth in a future article.
Stay physically active.
Physical activity can help reduce stress, improve mood, and boost mental energy. A quick an easy way to do this is to try to take a break every hours. This can be a quick 2 minute break to stand up and stretch while the GM is working with another player. You don't need to be "that" player who tries to control the table by interrupting the game to announce they need to get some movement in. Even getting up and walking around for a minute or two can help. Bonus points if you use this time to go get some water.
Connect with others in a positive way.
Tabletop gaming can be a social activity, and connecting with others can help improve mental wellbeing. Join a gaming group of like minded individuals who you would call your friends and enjoy yourself. Being social doesn't necessarily mean going and partying. Having a group of friends over to play games is a great way to be social. Organize game nights with friends to socialize and enjoy your hobby together.
Take breaks.
Taking breaks from the table can help reduce stress and improve focus. Collectively as a group create a regular breaktime. This can be a specific time like 2 hours into the session or after a major scene has ended. This is a good place to get up and move, but also time to hydrate, run to the rest room, and grab a quick snack. I find berries to be a great snack as they are not messy and taste fresh.
Maintaining mental wellness as a tabletop gamer is essential for overall happiness and performance. It can help lift you out of that mental fatigue we get half way through a session and makes the whole experience much more enjoyable. By incorporating mindfulness, rest, physical activity, social connection, and breaks into your routine, you can enjoy your favorite hobby and improve your mental wellbeing at the same time. Don't hesitate to reach out to our expert coaches for personalized support and guidance on your health and wellness journey.
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